Biblical Project Management: Re-Building the Wall Around Jerusalem

By Kenrick H. Burgess

This book is about biblical project management, principles, tools, techniques, and practices used by Nehemiah, a cupbearer to the King of the Persian Empire in the re-building of the wall around Jerusalem and its revitalization. It can be used as a manual for project recovery by project sponsors, owners, leaders, project managers and teams managing projects.

The book has three parts:

Part One deals with the characteristics and definitions of a project and biblical project management, the roles of a project manager, and the importance of stewardship in project management. There is also a brief overview of the Bible, its inspired writers, its impact, legal, financial, and project management systems.

Part Two examines Nehemiah’s project recovery management methodology, and his incredible use of advanced project management tools and techniques are demonstrated by referring to the approaches that he used to re-build the wall and achieve spiritual revival in Jerusalem.

The reader will learn:

• about Jerusalem in the time of Nehemiah
• how to prepare a project background and project definition report
• how to make successful interventions and to present the case for the recovery of a project to owners, sponsors, politicians and public officials
• how to conduct a detailed assessment of a troubled project
• how to do project reviews and document the variances in the scope of works, objectives, milestones, resources, quality, risks and expected deliverables, and to decide on the way forward
• about the capabilities required by the project manager to rescue projects such as courage; leadership; project management skills; technical competencies; project knowledge and understanding; wisdom; solving disputes; assessing the actual scope of works required; and evaluating the cultural, political, economic, social, environmental, and technical issues
• what to include in a final assessment report
• how to prepare the work breakdown structure, precedence network diagram; milestone plan, responsibility matrix, project organization, risk management plan
• how to develop the fifteen plans necessary for construction and control planning
• teamwork strategies, networking, project oversight, monitoring, tracking, construction management, stakeholders’ management and analyses, reasons why projects fail, the role of a project champion, and critical success factors for rescuing troubled projects
• Nehemiah’s project recovery management methodology
• how to revitalize and bring spiritual revival to a city
• how to conduct an ex-post evaluation of a project, and
• how to dedicate a project.

Part Three discusses a) the significance-driven project manager; b) leadership; c) the significance of the walls, towers and gates around Jerusalem; d) how to follow the footsteps of Nehemiah, and e) power tools and power required for project managers.

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson
• Release date: Feb 4, 2020
• ISBN: 9781595559913

Kenrick H. Burgess

Kenrick H. Burgess is an ordained minister, civil engineer, entrepreneur, and consultant. He is now a director in the world missions Department of the Wesleyan Holiness Church where he served for over 25 years as a pastor. Kenrick holds a doctorate in leadership and management, Master of Business Administration, Master of Arts in ministry, Bachelor of Science in civil engineering, and more. His wife Margaret is an attorney - at - law and author; their daughter Peggy-Ann is a medical doctor.

Book preview

Biblical Project Management

© 2019 Kenrick H. Burgess

Biblical Project Management

Re-Building the Wall Around Jerusalem

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Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the King James Version. Public domain.

Scripture quotations marked NKJV are from the New King James Version®. © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Library of Congress Control Number: 2018954297

ISBN 978-1-595559760 (Paperback)

ISBN 978-1-595559708 (Hardbound)

ISBN 978-1-595559913 (eBook)

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DEDICATION

This book is dedicated to God-Elohim our creator and my redeemer.

Kenrick H. Burgess

Let All Things Praise the Lord

Praise the Lord!

Praise God in His sanctuary;

Praise Him in His mighty firmament!

Praise Him for His mighty acts;

Praise Him according to His excellent greatness!

Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet;

Praise Him with the lute and harp!

Praise Him with the timbrel and dance;

Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes!

Praise Him with loud cymbals;

Praise Him with clashing cymbals!

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord.

Psalm 150, NKJV

Epigraph

It is in the quiet crucible of your personal, private sufferings that your noblest dreams are born, and God’s greatest gifts are given in compensation for what you have been through.

Wintley Phipps

Grammy-nominated Vocal Artist

Founder of the US Dream Academy

United States of America

September 30, 2019

Mr John Faithful

Jerusalem Drive

77012 Nehemiah Gardens

Global, PE90056

Dear Mr Faithful,

I am much older now with many years of experience. I have managed many projects and people from different cultures, countries, creeds, and races for more than forty-five years. Some people were wealthy; some did not have enough; some had just enough; some had more than enough; some were religious, and some were secular. There were hostile people and hurting people. I have been praised by religious leaders, prime ministers, royalty, business leaders, colleagues, and honoured by many. There were haters too, most were covert, and few were overt. Many recognized the favour of God in my life, but there were those who were unpleasant and envious. I have also made mistakes, but I have learned many lessons from them. This one thing I did: I refused to quit. I never stopped praying, serving, or loving God. It is over forty years since graduating with a degree in civil engineering, and I have gained a lot of quality experience and have had exceptional successes since then.

Now that you are a project manager I recommend to you seven qualities that you must have that will make you invaluable; cherish them, live them, do not despise them or neglect them, but harness them and they will enable you to attain a life of significance. This book will teach you about these qualities, for Nehemiah displayed all of them. I call them KB’s seven invaluable qualities. These qualities are:

1. heavenly wisdom- Get it!

2. diligence- Pursue it!

3. kindness- Be it!

4. integrity - Keep it!

5. generosity- Live it!

6. graciousness- Practice it!

7. controlled speech- Do it!

Embrace these seven qualities, and they will raise you to the level of a significance -driven project manager.

Yours faithfully,

Kenrick H Burgess

Author

Contents

Dedication

Epigraph

Foreword One

Foreword Two

Preface

Acknowledgements

CHAPTER ONE

BIBLICAL PROJECT MANAGEMENT

1.0 Introduction

1.1 The Bible

1.2 Biblical Stewardship

1.3 Characteristics and Definition of a Project

1.4 Project Management

1.5 Project Manager

1.6 Biblical Project Management Defined

1.7 Summary

CHAPTER TWO

PROJECT BACKGROUND

2.0 Introduction

2.1 Name of the Project.

2.2 Jerusalem: Early History

2.3 Location of the City

2.4 Impact of Leadership on Judah

2.5 Enemies of the Project

2.6 Previous Attempts to Do the Project

2.7 Environment in Jerusalem in Nehemiah’s Day

2.8 The Walls

2.9 The Towers

2.10 The Gates

2.11 The Project Stakeholders

2.12 Meaning of Names

2.13 The Man Nehemiah

2.14 Persian Empire at the time of Nehemiah

2.15 Summary

2.16 Questions to Answer and Points to Ponder

CHAPTER THREE

PROJECT RECOVERY INTERVENTION

3.0 Introduction

3.1 Intervention by Hanani, the brother of Nehemiah

3.2 Intervention to God by Nehemiah

3.3 Intervention by King Artaxerxes

3.4 Intervention with Key Stakeholders

3.5 Intervention of Enemy Stakeholders

3.6 Summary

3.7 Questions to Answer and Points to Ponder

CHAPTER FOUR

PROJECT ASSESSMENT

4.0 Introduction

4.1 Project Recovery Assessment

4.2 Purpose of the Project

4.3 Review of Night Reconnaissance of Jerusalem

4.4 Assessment of Walls and Gates

4.5 Assessment of Site and Surroundings

4.6 Assessment of Judah and Jerusalem

4.7 Validation of Scope of Work and Objectives

4.8 Assessment Report

4.9 Summary

4.10 Questions to Answer and Points to Ponder

CHAPTER FIVE

PROJECT PLANNING

5.0 Introduction

5.1 Planning Foundation

5.2 Work Breakdown Structure

5.3 Precedence Network Diagram

5.4 Milestone Plan

5.5 Risk Management Plan

5.6 Responsibility Matrix

5.7 Project Organization Plan or Chart

5.8 Contracting Plan

5.9 Summary

5.10 Questions to Answer and Points to Ponder

CHAPTER SIX

PROJECT CONSTRUCTION AND CONTROL PLANNING

6.0 Introduction

6.1 Construction and Control Plans

6.2 Recovery Planning Deliverables

6.3 Summary

6.4 Questions to Answer

6.5 Project Recovery Points to Ponder

CHAPTER SEVEN

PROJECT CONSTRUCTION

7.0 Introduction

7.1 Construction Preplanning

7.2 Nehemiah’s Construction Strategy

7.3 Construction Control

7.4 Risk Management Plan during Construction

7.5 Construction Completion

7.6 Contractual Completion

7.7 Summary

7.8 Points to Ponder

7.9 Questions to Answer

7.10 Conclusion

CHAPTER EIGHT

PROJECT OPERATIONS

8.0 Introduction

8.1 City Start-Up

8.2 City Census

8.3 City Repopulation

8.4 City Revival

8.5 Revival Achieved

8.6 Summary

8.7 Questions to Answer and Points to Ponder

CHAPTER NINE

PROJECT DEDICATION

9.0 Introduction

9.1 Preparations and Purification

9.2 Thanksgiving and Processions

9.3 Worship, Rejoicing and Boundless Joy

9.4 Contributions, First Fruits Offerings and Tithes

9.5 Summary

CHAPTER TEN

EX-POST EVALUATION

10.0 Introduction

10.1 Immigration Policy

10.2 Stewardship Policy

10.3 Sabbath Policy

10.4 Marriage Policy

10.5 Ex-Post Evaluation Findings and Actions

10.6 Questions to Answer and Points to Ponder

CHAPTER ELEVEN

PROJECT RECOVERY MANAGEMENT METHODOLOGY

11.0 Introduction

11.1 Methodology Definition

11.2 Nehemiah’s Methodology

11.3 Methodology Analysis

11.4 Project Oversight

11.5 Reasons Why Projects Fail

11.6 Importance of a Project Champion

11.7 Summary of Deliverables

11.8 Conclusion

CHAPTER TWELVE

THE SIGNIFICANCE DRIVEN PROJECT MANAGER

12.0 Introduction

12.1 Responsibilities of the Project Manager

12.2 The Significance Driven Project Manager

12.3 Attributes of the SDPM

12.4 Skills of the SDPM

12.5 Characteristics of the SDPM

12.6 Behaviours of the SDPM

12.7 Character of the SDPM

12.8 Conclusion

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

LEADERSHIP

13.0 Introduction

13.1 Leadership Definitions

13.2 Nehemiah’s Leadership

13.3 Leadership and Skills

13.4 Leadership and Strategy

13.5 Leadership and Confrontation

13.6 Leadership and Teamwork

13.7 Leadership and Victory

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

FOLLOW YOUR FEET

14.0 Introduction

14.1 Project Inception: Captive to Cupbearer

14.2 Project Intervention: Cupbearer to Governor

14.3 Project Assessment: Governor and Project Champion

14.4 Project Construction: Governor and Project Manager

14.5 Project Operations: Governor and City Builder

14.6 Project Dedication: Governor and Worshiper

14.7 Ex-Post Evaluation: Governor and Reformer

14.8 Conclusion

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE WALLS, TOWERS AND GATES

15.0 Introduction

15.1 The Walls

15.2 The Towers

15.3 The Gates

15.4 Conclusion

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

POWER TOOLS AND POWER

16.0 Introduction

16.1 Power Tool: Wisdom

16.2 Power Tool: Networking

16.3 Power Tool: Teamwork

16.4 Power Tool: Armour of God

16.5 Power Tool: Names

16.6 Power Tool: Prayer

16.7 Power Tool: Diligence

16.8 Power Tool: Vision

16.9 Power of God

16.10 Power Tool: Faith in God

16.11 Power of the Bible

16.12 Power Tool: Thanks

Appendix

List of Tables

List of Figures

Bibliography

References

Index

Foreword One

Over the years, there have been several excellent literary documents done on the Book of Nehemiah, but this work stands out because it addresses the matter of Biblical Project Management as it relates to the Kingdom of God, projects that are currently being undertaken and life in general.

The book focuses on the Jewish patriot, Nehemiah, who became the governor of Judah in the post-exilic period of Israel’s history. Nehemiah was a prominent civil servant in a vast empire and functioned consistently with the best principles of project management during a period of extreme political, economic, and social crisis of his nation-state. He was committed to providing security for his people who were vulnerable and on the brink of despair.

Dr Kenrick Burgess, the author of this monumental work, is uniquely qualified to produce this document. He has earned prestigious academic degrees, distinguished himself from a professional point of view as it pertains to civil engineering, project and programme management, and business administration. Furthermore, he is extremely knowledgeable about the primary sources of the Bible and scholarly literature associated with the fields with which he interacts. Of note is the fact that Dr Burgess developed the Master of Science (M.Sc.) degree in Project Management offered at The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine and has taught in the programme from its inception in 2001 to 2016. The writer demonstrates his ability to integrate every significant aspect of Project Management with the Word of God in Nehemiah. Moreover, for over thirty years he has been serving as a volunteer pastor of churches and strategic institutions in the Caribbean.

This book has the potential to bring about a paradigm shift in the thinking and practice of its readers who are project management practitioners, other professionals, students and persons engaged in worthwhile projects of every sort. The insights in this book will help you add significant value to all the projects you will do and positively impact the stakeholders with whom you interface. We owe Dr Kenrick Burgess a debt of gratitude for this work that will transform lives, institutions and nations as its readers implement the principles highlighted and are inspired by Nehemiah, himself an outstanding project management practitioner.

Dr Anthony Oliver, PhD

Former Vice President of Academic Affairs, Caribbean Graduate School of Theology,

The heights of great men reached and kept

were not attained by sudden flight,

but they, while their companions slept,

were toiling upward through the night.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882)

Foreword Two

Dr Kenrick Burgess is an ordained minister in the Wesleyan Holiness Church in the Caribbean, civil engineer, international project management consultant, and project manager for over thirty-nine years. He has been a successful lecturer in project management, international project management and strategic project planning in the Master of Science degree in Project Management at The University of the West Indies, St Augustine, and over one thousand students have graduated during his tenure. Dr Kenrick Burgess is also the founder and Managing Director of Global Competitive Strategies Ltd, a project and programme management consulting and training company, and the Global Centre for Advanced Training.

In this book, the author has combined his spiritual experience with his God-given skills in project management principles, techniques, tools and practices. The book is divided into three sections.

The book devotes two chapters to project planning, teaching the learner how to prepare projects for implementation.

Dr Burgess’ work serves as a model and guides for project managers, and with this book, he enlightens and directs us on project recovery management. This book has been inspired by Almighty God and can be used as a text for Project Management, a Bible study manual, and will be extremely useful for lecturers and students. This book is an excellent resource material. I recommend that all project leaders, project officers, project managers, technicians, and persons who manage projects secure a copy of this book. This book deserves to become the standard text on project management. It is a masterful study of Project Management produced by the author.

Professor Andrew Jupiter, FEI, FEMMM,

Distinguished Fellow – The University of the West Indies,.

Chaconia Medal in Gold, and International Energy Consultant.

Preface

I am delighted that I have published my first project management book in this series on biblical project management. I have been a visiting fellow and lecturer in the Master of Science in Project Management at the University of the West Indies for fifteen years where I taught project management, strategic project planning and international project management. I also taught project management and project leadership for five years. in the Master of Business Administration by the Henley Management College, UK. During my tenure as a lecturer in these institutions, I was very honoured to have been asked by many of my clients, colleagues and students to write books on project management. It is my hope that this book will inspire many of the experienced professionals in the construction industry in the Caribbean to produce many more books in the future. We, in the Caribbean, have a lot to teach the nations of the world.

About this Book

This book is different. It is about project recovery management, principles, tools, techniques, and practices, recorded in the Bible and applied by Nehemiah, the cupbearer to the king of the Persian Empire. Jerusalem then, is what is now known as East Jerusalem, and it was a province of Judah and part of the Persian Empire.

The project is about the construction and restoration of the old wall around Jerusalem and its revitalization. The sequencing of this book is as follows:

Part 1 deals with the characteristics and definition of a project; a description and definition of project management; the strategic role of the project manager, and the importance of biblical stewardship as an essential requirement of project management. This part also provides: a definition of biblical project management, a brief overview of the Bible, its inspired writers, its impact, and the legal, financial and project management systems established.

Part 2 describes the details of a project recovery management methodology, and the use of advanced project management tools and techniques such as: the work breakdown structure, precedence network diagram, responsibility charts, milestone plan, contracting plan, project organisation plan, stakeholders management plan and analyses; risk management plan, issues management, resource planning, fifteen plans for construction and control;. the importance of project dedication, ex-post evaluation; project oversight and more

Part 3 discusses the significance driven project manager; leadership; the significance of the gates, walls and towers around Jerusalem, and how to walk in the footsteps of Nehemiah. A set of power tools, for use during the project management of troubled projects, are provided for industry use.

About the Author

I am the founder and managing director of a project management company; a professional civil engineer, entrepreneur, project management consultant, ordained minister, educator and author. I have managed over five hundred (500) projects of various sizes from inception to completion and close-out in the private and public sectors.

I worked in the private sector as a project management consultant for various organizations in the Caribbean, and in Trinidad and Tobago, for the InterAmerican Development Bank and the European Union. In the public service, I worked as chief engineer, public works in the Ministry of Works in the British Virgin Islands; In Trinidad and Tobago I held positions as programme director for major roads, bridges and road maintenance projects funded by the Inter-American Development Bank, Caribbean Development Bank and the European Union; engineer and chief planning engineer in Tobago; chief construction engineer in the Ministry of Works and Transport;. project manager and general manager projects at the National Insurance Property Development Company Limited and manager, Land Assembly, and Construction in the National Housing Authority.

I also have substantial experience as lead project management consultant for projects funded by governments and international development banks on roads infrastructure and maintenance; health projects; early childhood care and educational centres; primary and secondary schools, housing, and land development projects. I have constructed roads, bridges, schools, buildings, retaining walls, houses, beach facilities, warehouses, cold storage facilities, drill towers, drainage projects, and land development projects.

The above experiences attained over a period of forty-five years provided me with leadership skills and expertise; practical experience, expert knowledge and skills in civil engineering, project and programme management, engineering designs and designs management, construction, preparation of loan proposals for international lending agencies; institutional strengthening, project planning and log frame analysis; strategic planning, maintenance by contract; non-financial project audits and reviews; mediation; value engineering and management; managing change; procurement; negotiations; and construction management and engineering, and socio-economic appraisal of investment projects.

Kenrick H. Burgess PhD, MBA, MA, BSc

Author

Acknowledgements

First, I thank my risen Lord, Jesus Christ for coming into this world, dying on the cross at Calvary, and making eternal life available to me which I accepted, and now I am saved, and my household - To God be the glory. I acknowledge that all the insights, revelations, abilities, skills and vision for this book were God- enabled. His Holy Spirit guided and helped me. My God - directed experiences as a project and programme management consultant, civil engineer, project manager, volunteer pastor, and entrepreneur added value. It was not I, but the Christ who is living in me that made this book possible.

I am grateful to the organizations which provided my experiences over the years such as : the Wesleyan Holiness Church of the Caribbean, the Ministry of Works and Transport of Trinidad and Tobago, the National Insurance Property Development Company Limited, the National Housing Authority of Trinidad and Tobago, the Ministry of Works of the British Virgin Islands, Henley Management College of the United Kingdom, The University of the West Indies (UWI), the Inter-American Development Bank and the many others organisations where I provided project management consultancy.

I acknowledge with thanks, the excellent contribution of Dr Anthony Oliver who wrote the first Foreword for this book. He served as Principal of Jamaica Bible College and Vice President of Academic Affairs at the Caribbean Graduate School of Theology, and former Dean of Academic Affairs to the Caribbean Nazarene College. In addition, he has served as pastor for over twenty-three years (23). Dr Oliver graduated from the West Indies School of Theology (Trinidad and Tobago), Jamaica Theological Seminary (Jamaica), Caribbean Graduate School of Theology (Jamaica) and Trinity International University (Deerfield, Illinois, USA). He earned the Doctor of Philosophy degree at Trinity International University and possessed over thirty-five years of experience in higher education.

Special thanks to Professor Andrew Jupiter, Distinguished Fellow, UWI and Energy Consultant, for writing the second Foreword for this book and extending to me his encouragement and advice. Professor Andrew Jupiter was given the honorary title of ‘Distinguished Fellow’ by The University of the West Indies (UWI). He is the holder of the Trinidad and Tobago Methanol Company (TTMC) Chair in Petroleum Engineering attached to the Department of Chemical Engineering in the Faculty of Engineering at the UWI. He has more than forty years of experience in the energy industry. Andrew was the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries. He was also the President of National Energy Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago Limited (National Energy) and, the President of the Energy Strategic Unit of The National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago Limited (NGC) and National Energy. Andrew also received the second highest national award, the Chaconia Gold Medal, from the President of Trinidad and Tobago. He is one of our national icons from the energy sector and is recognized internationally.

On the 2nd August 2018, Dr. Shelton Wood Christian patriot emailed me his endorsement of this book. Dr. Wood has made outstanding contributions to the kingdom of God as a mentor, teacher, counsellor, educator, and servant leader. Dr. Shelton Wood, Jr holds significant positions in the USA such as the President of Georgetown Wesleyan University of the Americas; assistant district superintendent in the Florida district of the Wesleyan Church; director of the Lay Academy and Ministerial Institute in the Florida district of the Wesleyan Church. Dr. Wood has lived in twenty-one (21) different countries over a period of twenty-eight (28) years. He served for two years, in the US State Department and the Foreign Service Institute in Washington, D.C.

Dr. Wood retired as a senior US Army officer and was an advisor to foreign armies and countries in Asia, South America, and the middle east. He has also served as a consultant, mediator, and advisor in the areas of education, human resource development, religion and business with various multinational corporations and countries worldwide. He worked with such organizations as the American Managed Association, United Methodist churches, Wesleyan churches, Ford Moto Company, Hospital Corporations of America, ITT, Martin Marietta, Japanese Management Association, Korea Management Association, and the United States Department of Defense. I thank Rev. Dr. Shelton Wood, Jr. Ph.D., EdD, Harvard University. for his endorsement of this book.

I also thank the staff of Global Competitive Strategies Ltd for their contributions. Special thanks to my publishers for their excellent work. Finally, I thank the blessed wife of my youth, Margaret, for her support, love, encouragement, and reviews to this book as an attorney-at-law and educator. Margaret is truly a virtuous woman. I also acknowledge the support and love of my exceptional daughter, Dr. Peggy-Ann Burgess, and the many others who graciously endorsed and appreciated this book. Thank you all very much.

Kenrick H. Burgess

Author

Introduction to

Project Management In The Bible

Zion is called the city of God, "and they shall call you the city of the LORD, Zion of the Holy One of Israel,"

Isaiah 60:14, KJV

It is where the Lord has dwelt and will dwell again, for the LORD dwells in Zion,

Joel 3:21, KJV

PART ONE

Biblical Projects and Project Management

An Introduction

The Bible

Knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

2 Peter 1: 20–21, NKJV

CHAPTER ONE

Biblical Project Management

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.¹

2 Timothy 3:16–17, KJV

1.0 Introduction

1.01 Biblical Projects: Divinely Recorded

Six projects are recorded in the Bible in which God (Elohim) defined, designed, implemented, and dedicated. Two of the projects were design-build and in four of the projects, God was the Architect, and He appointed earthly project managers, teams, and builders to implement the projects. The six projects are: a) The creation of heaven and earth (design-build),² b) The design and construction of the Ark,³ c) The design, construction, and outfitting of the Tabernacle of Moses in the wilderness,⁴ d) The Tabernacle of David,⁵ e) design and construction of the Temple of Solomon,⁶ and f) The New Jerusalem—city of God (design-build).⁷ Here is a glimpse of how four of these projects were generated:

In the beginning, God (Elohim) created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.⁸

And God said to Noah, ‘The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Make yourself an ark of gopherwood; make rooms in the ark and cover it inside and outside with pitch and this is how you shall make it.’⁹

Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: ‘let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them according to all that I show you, that is, the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furnishings, just so you shall make it.’¹⁰

The prophet Nathan said to David, Thus says the Lord of hosts: it shall come to pass when thy days be expired that thou must go to be with thy fathers, that I will raise up thy seed after thee, which shall be of thy sons; and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build Me a house, and I will establish his throne forever.¹¹ David the king then stood up and told the congregation: "And He said unto me, Solomon thy son, he shall build My house and My courts. Take heed now; for the Lord hath chosen thee to build a house for the sanctuary: And David said to Solomon, his son, be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the Lord God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord.¹²

1.02 Biblical Project Management: Divinely Revealed

The six divine projects reveal how God (Elohim) not only conceived the concept of a project and created the first project but how He demystified project management and taught teamwork, architecture, scheduling, engineering; design management, project management; construction management; the project cycle; project financing; cost management; procurement; scheduling; quality management; management of stakeholders; project integration; risk management; scope management; work breakdown structures; project planning, project implementation and control, and more. God then gave us the Bible which includes within its pages the entire body of knowledge for project management with its tools, techniques, methodologies, principles, and best practices for managing projects.

The Bible is also the foundation of the legal and other systems necessary for managing projects. For example, the Bible introduces us to immigration law;¹³ taxation laws;¹⁴ military laws;¹⁵ laws about domestic relations;¹⁶ laws about property;¹⁷ criminal laws;¹⁸ legal procedure,¹⁹ and more. Jesus addressed the marketplace and its operations such as 1) hostile takeovers;²⁰ 2) return on investments;²¹ 3) futures markets;²² 4) farming;²³ 5) family-owned businesses;²⁴ 6) management;²⁵ 7) observation and research;²⁶ 8) return on investments;²⁷ 9) misuse of money and bankruptcy;²⁸ 10) the advantage of leverage;²⁹ 11) venture capital in high-risk situations;³⁰ (Silvoson 2002, 41); women in business and networking.³¹ Maxwell identified twenty-one laws of leadership from the Bible that would enlarge and enrich any leader (Maxwell 2007, 1603–1608). The Bible contains hundreds of lessons on teamwork. Project managers everywhere should embrace and deliberate on the leadership laws, teamwork and project management in the Bible. There is no doubt that project management originated from the God of the Bible—the God of heaven.

1.1 The Bible

The Bible is the Book of books and the most copied book of antiquity. It was completed approximately 2,000 years ago. Its contents have never been found to be inaccurate. It was written over a period of approximately 1,600 years from 1490 BC to AD 100. The Bible is known as the Book of God and is divided into two categories: the Old Testament and the New Testament. It consists of sixty-six (66) separate books: thirty-nine (39) books in the Old Testament and twenty-seven (27)